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Information about the men from the borough of Mount Ephraim who perished while serving in the military during World War II and the Korean War.
Please note, these stories are still a work in progress. I will post an updated version of each story on the anniversary of their death.
If you have a picture, story or memory of any of these men, that you wish to share, please contact me. Thanks, Jeff Vilardo

Jerry J. Giordano

Jerry was born
Gennaro J. Giordano on November 7, 1917 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania to Italian
immigrant parents, Pasquale and Rosina “Rose” Giordano. Jerry was the eldest
child of Giordano family. His siblings were Angelo born in 1918, Frank born in
1920, Nicholas born in 1922, and Charles who was born in 1923 but died from
diphtheria at 9 months old. The family lived at 1839 Morris Street by 1920 and
later at 1733 Cleveland Street. Both address are located in the Point Breeze
section of Philadelphia.

According to the
1930 Census, the Giordano family had moved to 57 West Kings Highway in Mt.
Ephraim (presently the office of Kingsgate Realty). All of the children were
attending school and Pasquale was working at a company that manufactured gas
stoves. By 1940, Jerry had left school after attending 7th grade and was
working in sales for the stove manufacturer that his father and now his brother
Angelo were also employed.

Jerry enlisted into
the Army from Camden, NJ on February 15th, 1943. After basic training, Giordano
was assigned to Company G, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment of the 4th
Infantry Division. After corresponding with Mr. Bob Babcock, National President
of the 4th Infantry Division Association, he seems to think that PFC Giordano
could have come ashore with the division on the beaches of Normandy on June 6,
1944, and served through France, Belgium and into Germany. That may either be
fantastic luck, or more likely he was a replacement that entered the company at
a later date. While I am still working to confirm dates and locations where
Jerry had served prior to the time of his death, it is known that he was with
the division and was involved in what was known as the Battle of Hürtgen
Forest. Below are excepts of After Action Reports from the 4th Infantry Divison
dated November 8-14, 1944. They explain the daily report of action the division
encountered each day.

(November 8, 1944,
marks the beginning of the most epic battle in the long and proud history of
the 4th Infantry Division. Most of you have never heard of the Hurtgen Forest.
The toughest battle ever fought by the 4th Infantry Division was waged in the
Hurtgen Forest in November and the first few days of December of 1944. The 12th
Infantry Regiment entered the battle first, followed on 16 November by the rest
of the 4ID. -Bob Babcock)

8 November 1944 -
D+156

The 4th Division
was relieved from attachment to V Corps and attached to VII Corps.

The 8th Infantry
closed in its new assembly area in the vicinity of Zweifall at 0730 and started
tactical reconnaissance. The 1st Battalion of the 12th Infantry attacked at
1230 to take a limited objective. Companies B and after C were stopped by
machine gun and small arms fire at 1442. The enemy was well dug in and had put
in tactical wire covered by its machine guns. Positions were consolidated for
the night. The 22nd Infantry remained in the vicinity of Krinkelt until 2200 at
which time movement was initiated.

9 November 1944 -
D+157

The 8th Infantry
remained in assembly areas and continued tactical reconnaissance.

The 12th Infantry
remained attached to the 28th Infantry Division. Company K of the 3rd Battalion
attacked at 1100, advanced 250 yards and received machine gun fire at 1110. A
fire fight occurred at 1144, 400 yards across the line of departure. A
counterattack was also repulsed at 1305 and several men from the 109th Infantry
Regiment were rescued. Company I moved forward at 1305 on the left, and
elements of Company K passed across the enemy tactical wire at 1630 were
stopped by heavy enemy fires.

The 22nd Infantry
closed in the new assembly area by 0930 and reconnaissance was conducted in
areas of projected operations. The 801st Tank Destroyer Battalion, less Company
A, which has been a permanent attachment since D-Day, was relieved by the 803rd
Tank Destroyer Battalion at 0800.

10 November 1944 -
D+158

The 8th Infantry
continued active reconnaissance, and in anticipation of the projected attack,
various attachments were effected.

The 12th Infantry
remained attached to the 28th Infantry Division until 1900. New attachments
were effected. The 1st Battalion moved out at 0630 and attacked at 0700. It
advanced 100 to 200 yards when Company F hit a mine field and was forced to
withdraw to reorganize. The 3rd Battalion was counterattacked at 1220 by enemy
using flame throwers and the 2nd Battalion was also counterattacked at 1300. In
both cases, the enemy employed one company. The enemy was repulsed and 38
prisoners were taken. The 22nd Infantry, still assembled, made extensive
reconnaissance and preparations for impending operations. Attachments were
effected.

11 November 1944 -
D+159

Our advances were
contested stubbornly; the enemy was even counterattacking at every opportunity
in strength varying from platoon to company. At least three such counterattacks
were preceded by heavy artillery preparation. In addition to the formal
counterattacks, the enemy aggressively attempted to infiltrate our line and
attack our forces from the rear. Shelling by enemy artillery was constant
throughout the period. Tanks and self-propelled guns were seen mostly in the
vicinity of Hurtgen.

The 2nd Battalion
of the 8th Infantry moved to a forward assembly area, dug in and secured itself
for the night. The 12th Infantry improved positions beginning at 0800 and
efforts were made to clean enemy resistance in the rear areas of the 2nd
Battalion. Enemy pressure in this area continued throughout the day and resulted
in Companies E and G being isolated. The 1st Battalion attacked to reach
isolated companies but was stopped by heavy machine guns, small arms and 88 mm
fire. The 22nd Infantry continued reconnaissance, planning and coordination for
next operations.

12 November 1944 -
D+160

By holding our
attempts to advance practically to a standstill, and his thorough employment of
mines of all kinds, barbed wire, and blocks of various nature, the enemy found
little difficulty in counterattacking fiercely with infantry supported by
armor. Continuous shelling by three to four batteries, ranging in caliber from
light to medium, made it difficult for our forces to organize a thrust against
the enemy.

No changes for the
8th and 22nd Infantry. The 12th Infantry repulsed enemy counterattacks at 0841,
0846, 1020 and 1413. The enemy attack at 1020 consisted of approximately 150
infantrymen and some tanks but was forced to retreat toward Hurtgen at 1203,
leaving about 90 men isolated behind companies F and G, and the 1st Battalion
which had previously attacked and broken through to relieve F and G companies.
At the end of the day, the enemy had cut communications and contacts between
the CT 12 and 1st Bn and F and G companies.

13 November 1944 -
D+161

The 12th Infantry
was engaged in fierce fighting in the Hurtgen Forest. Casualties were high and
it was necessary to unify all efforts to obtain necessary replacements.

The enemy remained
relatively inactive. Its defense was organized along the same front lines from
which patrols operated to probe our positions and to determine our strength.
Twenty-one shellings were reported by the 4th Infantry Division units. It was
estimated that there were three battalions of enemy artillery capable of firing
into the sector held by CT 12. All battalions of the 8th and 22nd Infantry
conducted instructions for all officers in adjustment of artillery fire.
Beginning at 0730, isolated companies A, C, F and G, 12th Infantry, initiated a
short withdrawal to reestablish contact. By mid-afternoon, while being harassed
by small arms and artillery fire, the operation had been completed
successfully.

14 November 1944 -
D+162

The Assistant G-1
First Army visited the division to check on casualties and replacements. The
hazards of fighting were intensified by the dense forest and the lack of roads.
Medical aid men found it necessary to carry litter cases up to two miles over
rough terrain and through extensive mine fields. The casualty rate among aid
men and litter bearers was extremely high and replacements were difficult to
obtain. It was necessary to use other means for this purpose and to utilize
personnel from rear installations.

The enemy defended
its same front line with heavy artillery and mortar barrages. Only one other
action, a single patrol; which withdrew hastily upon engagement with the 298
Engineer Combat Battalion was reported. No change of activities for the 8th and
22nd Infantry. The 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry relieved the 2nd Battalion on
the main line of resistance and the 2nd Battalion moved to an assembly area,
closing therein by 1700.

PFC Jerry J.
Giordano was listed as wounded in action on November 13, 1944 and died of his
injuries the next day in the area of Düren, Germany. He is interred at
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, Plot F Row 10 Grave
48. Jerry was survived by his parents, Pasquale and Rose, and brothers Angelo,
Frank and Nicholas. All 3 brothers were also World War II veterans, serving in
the army.

The
bell in the steeple of Sacred Heart Church in Mt. Ephraim was donated in
Jerry’s memory by his parents. The bell was first placed on the old church on
Black Horse Pike, and later transferred to the new church on Kings Highway when
it was built.

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